User Reviews

Weaknesses: On Hardtail aluminum they resonate through the frame. I think the rivets are the problem. It CAN be adjusted out by playing around with set up, but I am done with these

Bottom Line:

I have Alligator Wavy rotors for $18 that are silent. These AVID HSX are noisy and vibrate. I don't like them for my set up. I wanted to post review to save someone the hassle. If they work on your bike, great. I have had trouble on 2 frames with resonance (small frame could be the issue). I have had NO problems with squealing like some others, just resonant vibration.

Avid finally got it right, with this fine piece of stopping hardware. They basically took the highly effective HS1 rotor and increased its ability to handle even longer, extended descents without heating-up and warping. It also sheds water very well, as the cross-drilling minimizes squeak.

I've tried ALL the lightest rotors ever made and this rotor simply offers the best combination of positive braking confidence, wear, stopping power, weight, fade resistance with zero noise. Don't compromise your safety, just to save a few grams. Set these up properly and simply IGNORE all the Avid hate out there....

I guess it is pretty much it. Not any lighter than the standard HS1, but braking improvement is notorious. I really really loved the performance at high rates of temperature in relatively long periods of braking, fading simply went away. The only bad thing could be the fact these rotors require a switch to others almost every 2.000 miles or so. But they are worthy. This is like comparing organic pads with metals. Durability is less while fading performance gets better.

I have bought those because I changes wheels to centerlock. Those rotors are a joke. I got them in original avid box and when I unboxed them that where untrue. Not a little bit but untrue to a level that that required truing. Now I'm using them for a month and about 200km and that are almost gone... I have never seen rotors wear this fast ! My last rotors (also avid) have almost no signs of war after 3 years of use in a heavy AM. The next thing is they make lots of noise when they overhead and they overhead fast. I think that is is one of the worst MTB products that I have came across in like 15 years of rings. On top of this all they are pricey. I'm going to shimano. Avid if you read this you should send me a new pair of rotors because this is not a product that can be used in MTB.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Paul-Anthony
a All Mountain Rider

Date Reviewed: May 10, 2012

Strengths: Lowers the number of parts for Avid X0 brake assembly on Shimano wheels and help respect the warranty. Lighter then an adaptor with a HS1 brake.

Weaknesses: From the box the discs are wavy. Some cross drilled holes not done properly. The worst is that the aluminium carrier is at least 1 mm too inboard. When it's time to adjust the calipers, mine couldn't go inboard enough to make sure that the inner pad doesn't touch the disc. Previously I had HS1 rotors with DT Swiss adaptor. That setup had the tendancy to loose itself but the alignment was fine.

Bottom Line:

Hope that Avid will correct that issue because they don't worth a penny. The idea is good but the result is far from what I would expect.